Renewable-energy firm Airtricity creates 200 jobs

3 Jul 200930 Views

Green energy supplier Airtricity has this morning announced that it is to create 200 jobs in the Irish market, as the company begins its drive to supply electricity to half a million business and domestic customers in the next three years.

The 200 jobs will be created in the areas of sales, customer support, billing and support services. Fifty of the positions will be created in Airtricity’s headquarters in Sandymount, Co Dublin, with the remaining 150 comprising outsourced roles.

The company also announced today that it is to launch a major customer acquisition campaign next week to target the consumer market. Airtricity is hoping that it can attract customers to switch to it for their energy supply with promises of the cheapest standalone energy rates in the country.

The move represents a concerted effort by Airtricity, which is owned by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), to take on its rivals Bord Gáis and ESB in supplying electricity to Irish homes and businesses.

According to Kevin Greenhorn (pictured), managing director of Airtricity Supply, the company’s announcement today represents great news on the jobs front: “This announcement reinforces that there is real potential to generate jobs in the renewable-energy sector, and that the industry can help the country out of its current downturn.

“Airtricity is a leader in green energy generation and supply, and in supporting jobs and economic stimulus. To date, Airtricity has invested almost €700m into the economy, and an investment of up to €125m is planned over the next 12 months.

“This jobs and investment announcement is fantastic news for the consumer – competition is leading to consumers getting better value from their energy supplier, and at Airtricity we continue to offer the Irish consumer the most competitive standalone electricity rates in the market – ensuring that we continue to provide both domestic and commercial consumers with electricity that is not only greener but also cheaper,” Greenhorn added.

The renewable-energy company, which was established in 1999, was the first independent supplier of green energy to customers both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

It has now built up a considerable infrastructure of wind farms across Ireland, with 17 onshore wind farms generating 878 mega watts of electricity – enough to power 180,000 households. At present, the company provides green energy to just over 60,000 customers across the island of Ireland, of which 45,000 are SMEs and 15,000 are domestic customers.

Renewable energy is a growing force in the world economy. According to a recent report from the United Nations, global investments in the renewable energy sector totalled a record US$155bn in 2008, overtaking investment in carbon-based fuels for the first time.